Mental Health Therapist Near Me: Finding Individual Therapy

Finding the right therapist that matches your needs can be challenging, particularly if you live in a rural area without many therapists or are limited by your insurance coverage. Some factors to consider when choosing a therapist in your area may include the cost, distance, the therapist’s specialty or training, and your therapy preferences. 

Choosing the best therapist for individual therapy and improved mental health

When you start searching for a therapist in your area, whether in a rural area or near popular cities, consider the following steps. 

How to find a therapist near you for mental health support

Individuals attend therapy for various purposes, whether they hope to work with a therapist to address life stressors, mental health concerns, and distressing symptoms or to improve their lives overall. Someone in a mental health crisis will need a different type of care than someone who is looking for help with stress management. Consider why you want to attend therapy and what you’re looking for in a therapist. It may be helpful to create a list of non-negotiable factors, such as:

When you meet with your therapist, they may ask you what you want to discuss and work on during your mental health journey. If you’re experiencing a mental health condition, such as depression, you might bring a list of symptoms that have been bothering you. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy with a mental health therapist

Many therapists specialize in a particular area of mental health, whether it’s depression, anxiety, trauma disorders, or a unique type of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or addiction counseling. Other therapists may utilize a client-centered approach. Therapists with experience in treating conditions like bipolar disorder and substance abuse may also offer specific forms of care tailored to the unique needs of their clients. Other types of mental health professionals include licensed marriage and family therapists, substance use counselors, and clinical psychologists.

Identifying your symptoms can be helpful when deciding on potential therapists. You may also choose to research effective types of therapy for your condition or symptoms. One standard treatment approach is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), often referred to as talk therapy with a therapist. 

Once you’ve nailed down your needs, you can start searching for therapists in your area to begin your mental health journey. Try to personalize your search by including the specialty you’re looking for. For example, if you’re looking for a licensed clinical social worker with clinical social work experience, you can search for “licensed clinical social worker near me in (city name).” If you’re looking for a therapist to provide individual therapy rather than group sessions, be sure to include that in your query. If you need help addressing relationship challenges, you may consider couples therapy, family counseling, or marriage and family therapy.

How to find and contact a therapist near me for individual therapy

When you’re just starting your search, you may need to contact several therapists before you find the right therapist. If you’re looking for therapists through a search engine, write down the phone numbers and emails of the therapists that stick out to you.

Once you’ve found options, reach out through email or by phone. If you email a therapist, you might try a greeting like this:  

Hello,

I am interested in attending therapy for my depressive symptoms. I noticed you specialize in CBT for depression. I want to start counseling to learn new techniques for managing my symptoms. I have [Insurance Company Name] for insurance and was wondering if you are available and accept my insurance plan. 

Kindly,

(Your Name) 

Reaching out through email can show therapists you are ready to get started. You may not hear back from some but keep trying. Someone could be a match. 

How to find a therapist close by for mental health counseling

When trying to find therapists or psychiatrists near you, it can feel like there are no community mental health options in your town. At times, searching for therapists who offer comprehensive care can be challenging. You might come across blocks, such as living in a small city or not having insurance. In these cases, your pool of potential therapists could be smaller. Try the following tips to widen your therapy possibilities.

Online search

Some websites have a therapist search tool that can assist you in finding a therapist in your area. The American Psychological Association (APA) has a therapist finder tool that can connect you with practicing licensed therapists and help you check if a therapist is licensed.

Searching for therapists on a mapping service like Google Maps may yield some results. The National Register of Health Service Psychologists also has an online search tool for finding therapists licensed to practice.  

Medical referral

If you’re having difficulty finding a therapist online, your primary care physician may be able to refer you to a therapist or psychologist. To get a medical referral for therapy, you may need to discuss any mental illness or distressing symptoms with your doctor. Ask them if they know of a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor in your area who takes your insurance plan.

Word of mouth 

If you know someone in your personal life who attends therapy, ask them if they have any therapist recommendations. You might not want to meet with a therapist who works with your friends or family. However, you could learn about a clinical director or someone’s past therapist who helped them with their mental well-being.

Different types of therapists 

There are multiple types of practicing therapists and psychology professionals who offer therapy services for mental wellness. If you’re looking for a therapist, you may choose between the following to find an option that fits your needs: 

Counselors

Counselors generally have a master’s degree in psychology. They may be labeled as:

• LPC: Licensed Practicing Counselor, or Licensed Professional Counselor
• NCC: Nationally Certified Counselor 
• LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• LCP: Licensed Clinical Psychologist
• LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor 
• RPT: Registered Child Therapist
• LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Addiction Therapist
• Behavioral Therapist
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapist

A licensed counselor or therapist must meet city, state, and country-wide licensure requirements, such as a certain number of hours in a clinical setting and a passing score on a licensure exam. 

Social workers

Social workers can be divided into two categories (LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Workers or LSW: Licensed Social Workers) often utilizing the acronyms LSW or LCSW. They are mental health care professionals who may practice social work with social groups in community settings. They also have extensive experience providing quality care to under-represented communities, treatment centers, human welfare organizations, non-profits, or as therapists in a counseling setting. 

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who attend medical school, like other doctors. They may have completed a medical residency before practicing. Often, psychiatrists offer clients medication management, psychological testing, and general psychological counseling for various mental health issues. A psychiatric nurse practitioner is another type of mental health professional similar to a psychiatrist, but they differ in their scope of practice and education.

Psychologists

Psychologists may work in a research-based setting, in a laboratory, or as medical doctors in some cases (such as neuropsychology). They may, at times, prescribe medication or perform diagnostic testing on clients, but this is rare. 

Behavioral specialists

Behavioral specialists may or may not be licensed counselors. They might work in professional environments like group settings, schools, or community centers. They often have a bachelor's degree in behavioral science, and, depending on the state, a Master's degree as well. Behaviorists may work to inspire others to improve wanted behaviors through behavioral therapy techniques.

School or work counselors

In some cases, counselors will work in an educational or professional setting, such as a school or workplace. They can provide a safe space for career counseling, self-esteem issues, education advice, personal growth, or work with students or employees to gain knowledge when needed. They may also help individuals navigate challenging life transitions and improve their mental well-being.

Alternative resources to find a therapist for individual therapy and support

If you’re struggling to find a therapist due to life transitions or other barriers, there are a few options you can consider.

Meet with a medical provider

If you cannot find a psychologist or therapist due to your location, insurance, or cost barriers, you may be able to meet with your primary care physician for some types of treatment. Although general medical doctors are not licensed to provide therapy, they are often able to prescribe mental healthcare medication for common conditions, such as anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia.

Additionally, a psychiatrist in your area may benefit you if you cannot find a therapist. Psychiatrists can provide therapy, medication, and psychological testing. Although many psychiatrists do not provide therapy services, there may be one in your area that does.

The BetterHelp platform is not intended to provide any information regarding which medication or medical treatment may be appropriate for you. The content provides generalized information that is not specific to one individual. Do not take any action without consulting a qualified therapist or medical professional.

Find a sliding scale provider 

In some cases, finances can be a barrier to finding a counselor who can offer comprehensive care. If this is the case, search by location for “sliding scale therapy.” Sliding scale often means you can pay what you can afford. In some cases, they may be able to lower your co-pay or work with your insurance company to reduce any financial burden. 

See a school or work counselor 

If you are a university or college student, your school may have counseling resources at a low or affordable cost. Although it may not be ideal for long-term support, a school counselor can be an option if you cannot find a counselor traditionally.

Often, companies may include brief counseling for their employees, such as a counseling phone line. If you are struggling, you can call this line or make an appointment with a company therapist. Although you might not be able to meet back-to-back with a company counselor, it can be a beneficial option for short-term stressors. 

Commute to an office 

You may consider commuting to counseling or therapy if you live in a rural area. If there’s a large city within an hour of your home, look into therapists in that area. If you do not have a vehicle, cannot commute, or don't come up with options in your search for the right therapist, you might consider trying online therapy. 

Try online counseling if a therapist near me is not available

Online counseling is an option for those who face barriers to in-person counseling, such as cost, distance, or availability. Online counseling can be much more affordable, often costing around $65-$90 a session instead of the country average of $100-$200 a session. 

Research on online mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral therapy found that it was as effective as in-person counseling in treating conditions like anxiety and depression. Online counseling may be a beneficial choice if you’re struggling to find an in-person therapist. 

You can sign up to see a therapist through online counseling in a few minutes through platforms like BetterHelp for individuals or Regain for couples therapy. Finding a therapist online may be more convenient because BetterHelp allows you to search for a therapist through our online directory of some of the best therapists, trained in a wide range of therapeutic techniques, with a variety of credentials including licensed clinical social workers and licensed professional counselors.